Olympic champion Florent Manaudou, of Marseilles, sneaked past Nathan Adrian (USA) at the helm of there early world rankings with a 21.62 victory in the 50m freestyle at the Nancy meet at home in France this weekend past.

In 21.70, Adrian had held sway since the Austin Grand Prix in Texas last month. Manaudou clocked 21.87 a week later in Montpellier. They are two of only three men to have broken 22sec so far this long-course season.

The third is the man who pressed Manaudou in Nancy: ADN Project's latest recruit, Bruno Fratus (BRA), clocked 21.92, while the winner's bro-in-partnership, Fred Bousquet, finished third in 22.03. In a head-to-head over 50m butterfly, Manaudou beat backstroke ace Camille Lacourt 24.95 to 24.99 then took on and beat Rafa Munoz (ESP) 23.70 to 23.93.

In other action, Gregory Mallet clocked 1:49.63 to win the 200m freestyle; Jeremy Stravius won the 100m backstroke in 54.03 ahead of Lacourt, 54.43 and Benjamin Stasiulis, 55.98, while Stasiulis took the 200m in 1:58.94; Giacomo Perez Dortona won the 50m and 100m breaststroke in 28.03 and 1:01.02 respectively; and Brazil's Felipe Martins claimed the 100m butterfly in 53.08 ahead of a 53.37 from Munoz.

Among done, Coralie Balmy took the 200m and 400m free double in 1:58.19 and 4:07.93, while the 100m and 200m back double went to Chloe Credeville in 1:02.35 and 2:15.37.